Ribbon mechanism for time-recorders, &amp;c.



No. 848,294. YPATENRTED MAR. 26, 1907.

J, & A. DBY. RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TIME REOORDERS, 61:0.

APPLIUATION IILBD JULY 14, 1903.

wmvfssfs ATTOHNE m UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

JOHN DEY, or SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, AND ALEXANDER DEY, or GLASGOW,

SCOTLAND, ASSIGNORS TO DEY TIME REGISTER COMPANY, OUSE, NEW YORK, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

OF SYRA- Specification of Letters Patent.

ratenteu March 26, 1907.

Application filed July 14, 1903- Serial No. 165,520.

will enable others skilled in the art to which" it appertains to makeand use the same.

This invention relates to a ribbon-guide;

and its object is to provide an improved means for guiding a travelingribbon, band, or web such that correct alinement and travel thereofmay-be secured.

The invention will be hereinafter described in .detail and the novelfeatures thereof pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view showing theribbon-guide used in connection with the inking-ribbon of atime-recorder for which it is especially adapted. Fig. 2 is a detail inside elevation of the guide-rolls shown in Fig. 1, the ribbon beingshown in section. Fig. 3 shows the application of the same principle forcontrollin the travel of a relativelywide band or web Fig. 4 shows theapplication of the principle to a vertically-traveling web.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the spools of the ribbon mechanism ofa time-recorder are shown at and 11, respectively. These spools aremounted upon studs 12 and 13 ,carried by frame 14, and they are adaptedto be alternately rotated to wind the ribbon'first' are gears 16 17,adapted to mesh alternately at different positions of the shaft withcrownears, shown in dotted lines as being carried y the lower'fianges ofthe spools 10 and 11, v

respectively. The shaft is rotated by means of a spring-pawl 18, whichengages a ratchet-wheel 19 on the shaft, the springpawl being actuatedby a lever 20, provided with a bearing in a suitable part of theframeyielding connection, as by a spring 27.

work, as'at 21, and adapted to be reciprocated in order to actuate thespring-pawl by a bell-crank lever pivoted at 22, the-short arm 23ofwhich is adapted to engage the end of lever '20. The long arm 24 of thisbell crank lever is connected to an arm 25 on an actuating-shaft 26,preferably through a 7 Thus it (ran beseen that when the actuating shaftis rotated in the direction indicated by'the arrow the bell-crank leverwill be rocked in its pivot and the pawl 18 forced inwardly anddownwardly, thereby rotating the shaft 15 through a space proportionalto one tooth of the ratchet or one stroke of the pawl. lVith the partsin the position illustrated the gear 16 at the left end of the shaftwill be in engagement with its spool, while the gear 17 at the otherendis out of engagement, and the ribbon would be wound on the spool 10,while i outer arms 29 29, each of which carries at its end two pins3030, between which the ribbon A third arm of the lever, as at 31,

passes. is notched or forked at its end to engage a pin 32, carried by alever 33, pivoted to the framework and adapted ,when swung upon itspivot to engage alternatelycollars 34 35, rigid with the shaft '15.nected at one end to the upper end of the arm A spring 36 is con- 31 andat the other end to a pin 37, carried by the lever 33 below its pivot.The general operation of this reversing mechanism does not differ fromwell-known devices of this character. A rib or projection is carried bythe traveling ribbon A, near" each end thereof, and when the ribbon: isexhausted on one spool this projection will engage the twopins" 30 atthe corresponding side of the meclianism and swing the three-armed levera s the ribbon is fed along. connection-between the arm 3 1 of the leverand the swinging lever 33 the lever 33 will swing upon its pivot,striking the opposite one of the collars 34 and 35 from the one withwhich ,7 it had been before'engaged and shifting the shaft 15longitudinally to bring the actuating mechanism into engagement with theother Through the described spool, thereby reversing the direction ofthe I'LbbOIl. The spring 36 tends to hold the lever 33 on whichever sideof its pivot it may be -swung and prevents accidental moveinentthereof.- Y

A section of a printing-wheel is indicated at B,' and of the platen atC, as convenient 'illultrations of the printing mechanism with Idle ofthis frame and at'right angles thereto I the traveling ribbon.

is attached a stud 44, which passes loosely through the tube 45, carriedby an arm 46, projecting from the-framework. Where the posltion of theparts is such that the frame with its stud might tend to Work away fromthe tube, this may be prevented by a pin 47,

assing through the stud below the arm 46. ush a ribbonrguide may beinterposed at any desired point in the path of the ribbon and may .beadvantageously used with a ribbon traveling in any plane-that is,whether the. axes of the spools are horizontal, vertical, or at anyother angle to the framework. It is particularly adapted, however, foruse with a ribbon traveling in a vertical plane, with the axes of the sools vertical, inasmuch as under such conditions the ribbon isespecially likely to deviate from its path or getout of 'alinement,thereby preventing the proper action of the printing mechanism andeventually stopping the working of the machine. The reason for this willbe apparent upon considering the effect of the guide-rolls upon Theframe 40, which carries the rollers 41, being loosely mounted in thetube 45 is free to turn about therein or to swing on an axis assingthrough the center of the stud 44. his stud 44, as stated, is preferablyattached to the frame at exactl the longitudinal and horizontal centerst ereof, and the ribbon 4 should be so adjusted u on its spools that itscenter will be exactly a ove the cen- I ter of the shaft, so that if theshaft were ex tended upwardly through the center of the frame and thecenter 0 the rollers it would pass through the center of the ribbon.This may perhaps be mostclearly stated by saythat a-plane passed throughthe longitudinal central line of the ribbon coincides with or includesthe axial lineof the stud, which isthe axial line of'thepivotal movementpermifibd to the rollers. When thus adjusted, the ribbon will travel instable equilibrium under all conditions, and if its alinemerit isdisturbed by any-imperfection, by its own weight, or by an other causeit will be immeequally divided, one-half on each side of the stud oraxis, and consequently the lon itudinal axes of these rollers remain atrig t angles to the direction ,ofmotion of the ribbon;

but if the ribbon is for any cause moved to one side or the other, dearting from its intended aline'ment the si es of the rollers to whichthe ribbon has 'moved will have a greater portion of the rotatin forceexerted upon them, and consequent y the rollers, with the frame, will beswung around, so that the longitudinal axes of the rollers will nolonger be at right angles to the line of feed of the ribbon. The'resultwill be that the rollfeed back until its'longitudinal' central'line,coincides again with the axis of the roller sup ortin frame. When thisis accomphs ed, t e force exerted upon'the rollers .upon each side ofthe pivot-stud will again be balanced and the desired normal conditionbe reestablished;

v In Fig. 3 the ribbon or ,web A is shown as of greater width, and a setof guide-rollers is provided in conjunction with each edge thereof. Eachset of rollers pulls the web toward itself, andthe eby the web is ke tstretched, at the sa e time insuring t e proper alinementthefeof. As inthe former case, rollers 41 42 are mounted in a frame 40 IIO and aredrawn together by springs43. In this case, however, the studs 44 arediflerently positioned with relation to the frame,

their osition dependin upon the amount 'of the ri bon or web whic it isdesired should, be held within the bite of the rollers in order to keepthe web properly stretched and alined'. The distance to which each setof rollers ulls the Web toward itself is determined y the position ofits stud, will pull until there is the same width of web to the right orleft of. thestud asthere is length of rol er to the left orfright of thestud, or if the stud be one-half inch or'oneinch from the inner end ofthe web the-web will .be pulled until its. edge is one-half inch or oneinch beyond the center of the stud. Thesame thing will occur on bothsides, so that the web'is kept in a stretched condition, and if it b6from any cause disturbed in its condition it will be gradually drawnback again. There must be' pressure between the rollers to grasp theWeb, and the pressure must be proportioned to the weight of the web orband. This pressure may be obtained from the roughness of the surface ofthe rollers, which may be of sandpaper, or rubber, &c.

When the wr or band is suspended verti-.

cally, as in Fig. 4, the lower rollers are not needed, as its own weightwill keep the web stretched vertically. The principle involved isexactly the same as that of Figs. 1 and 2 and is that normallyequalparts of the web are on each side of the stud, as indicated in thedrawings, so that the position of the stud determines the hold that therollers will take of the web. If you move the stud nearer to the end ofthe roller, its hold on the web will become still less, and if you movethe stud farther from the end of the roller its hold on the web willincrease in exact proportion. Under some circumstances it may be foundnecessary in connection with the construction shown in Fig. 4 to supplyadditional means for keeping the web in contact with the rollers. Thismay be done by a holdingplate, by doubling the web around the rollers,or in various other readily-suggested ways.

Obviously the invention here disclosed may be embodied in differentmanners in a variety of organizations without departing from the scopethereof.

' Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Inribbon-guiding mechanism, a roller over which the ribbon is adaptedto pass, said roller being ivotally mounted to swing substantially in te plane of the ribbon, and

means for holding the ribbon in contact therewith, the inclination ofthe axis of'said roller with res ect to the longitudinal center line ofthe rifibon being controlledby the relative areas ofcontact between theribbon and the roller upon the two sides of the pivot ofthe latter.

2. In ribbon-guiding mechanism, in combination, a pivotally-mounted suporting .member, and two rollers journale therein adapted to receivetherebetween the ribbon,

the entire surface of said rollers within the- 4.. In rihbon'gniding-mechanism, in com.

(1 the effective lengthbination, a pivotally-mounted su porting member,and 'two' spring-pressed'rol ers jour-r naled therein adapted to receivetherebe-* tween-the ribbon, the entire surface of said rollers withinthe range of contact of said ribbon being substantially parallel, andsaid pivotally-mounted member being free from contact with said ribbon.

5. In ribbon-guiding mechanism, in com bination, a pivotally-mounted suporting member, and two spring-pressed ro ers journaled therein adaptedto receive therebetween the ribbon, the entire surface of said rollerswithin range of contact with said ribbon being substantially arallel,and ,the effective length of said rol ers exceeding the width of saidribbon.

6. In ribbon-guiding mechanism, a pivotally mounted roller,. a secondsprmg-. pressed roller adjacent thereto, the surfaces of said rollersbeing substantially parallel and the ribbon being adapted to asstherebetween, and means whereby the inclination of the axis ofsaid'first-mentioncd roller with respect to the longitudinalcenter lineof said rib member and two rollers journaled thereon adapted to receivethe ribbon therebetween, the entire surface of said rollers within rangeon is controlled-by the relative areas of contact between said ribbonand roller upon of contact with said ribbon-beingsu'bstantially-parallel, and the'efiective length thereof exceeding thewidth of said ribbon,- and said pivotally-mounted member being free Ifrom contact with said ribbon.

bination, a pivotally-mounted supporting member, two rollers journaledthereon adaptros ed to receive the ribbon therebetween, the

entire surfaces of said rollers within rangeof contact with said ribbon.being substantially parallel, and springs arranged to hold said rollersin contact with the ribbon, the incli nation of the axis of said rollerswith respect to the longitudinal center line of said ribbon beingcontrolled by the relative areas ofcontact between said ribbon and saidrollers upon the two sides of the pivotof the same.

9. In a ribbon-guiding mechanism, in combination, a pivotally-mount'edframe, a pair .of rollers journaled in said frame, the surfaces -of saidrollers being substantially par allel and the ribbonbeing adapted-topasstherebetween, and a pair'of s rings, onearranged at each end of saidrol ers'an'd 'adapted to hold the same in contact with said ribhen, theinclination of the axis of said ivotally-mpunted frame being determineby the relative areas of contact between said ribbon and the rollersupon the two sides of the pivot of the frame.

1Q; In a ribbon-guiding mechanism,

combination, a 'pivotally-mounted frame, combination, apivotally-mountedroller over means upon Whichsaid frame is pivoted, 'a which the ribbonis adapted to pass, springpair of rollers jou'rnaled within said frame,and springs for pressing .the ends of each of said rollers in thedirection of the other, said rollers being adapted to receive the ribbontherebetween, the entire surface of said rollers Within range of contactwith said ribbon being substantially parallel and the length of saidrollers exceeding the Width of said ribbon, withrespect to thelongitudinal center line of .said ribbon being controlled by therelative areas of contact between said ribbon and said rollers upon thetwo sides of the pivot of the 'frame.

11-. In a ribbon-guiding mechanism, in

the inclination of the axis of said rollerspressed means for engagingand holding the ribbon throughout'its width in contact therewith, andmeans whereby the inclination of the axis of said roller with respect tothe longitudinal center of the ribbon is controlled by the relativeareas of contact betweenth-e rib-' bonand the roller upon the two sidesof the pivot of the latter.

In testimony whereof tures in the, presence of two witnesses.

JOHN DEY. ALEXANDER DEY. Witnesses:

B. E. SNYDER, MILLIE HILDE.

we affix our signa-

